British-Pakistani doctor uses Apple Watch to save woman’s life on flight

A British-Pakistani doctor recently saved the life of a 70-year-old woman with the help of an Apple Watch on a flight from Birmingham to Verona.

In a video shared by journalist Murtaza Ali Shah on his 'X' handle, Dr Rashid Riaz recounted the incident of how he helped an elderly woman who suffered a medical emergency on the flight.

“During the flight, a 70-year-old woman, who was a heart disease patient, had her condition suddenly deteriorated and she faced difficulty while breathing. Upon responding to the flight attendant's request, I came forward to help," he said.

"I observed the latest Apple Watch on the wrist of a flight attendant, and it instantly clicked in my mind that these gadgets can have heart rate monitoring apps in them as well so I borrowed it to assess the woman's condition and by putting it on the woman’s wrist I got to know the women’s oxygen saturation,” he added.

He said that normal heart saturation levels are more than 96 per cent but the woman, who was suffering from the breathing issue, had low saturation levels.

After detecting a decrease in the woman's oxygen levels he promptly administered oxygen available on the plane for saving her life, the doctor mentioned.

Additionally, the patient disclosed neck pain issues, upon which Dr. Rashid provided relevant medication present on the flight.

Furthermore, Dr. Rashid Riaz emphasised the importance of swift actions in a doctor's response to a patient, and by his swift actions towards the elderly woman, initially in a critical state, was able to walk off the plane.